Universally adjustable lamp



April 7, 1936.

J. H. CANNON UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE LAMP Filed'June 12, 1953 fivdazvroe c/kmss H. Cam/VON ,4 rroezwsx Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE LAMP James H. Cannon, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 12, 1933, Serial No. 675,440

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a lamp which is universally adjustable so that the light beam thereof may be cast in any direction, and having a shade or reflector means whereby a very com- 5 plete control of the light beam may be obtained. The preferred form of my invention is embodied in a portable lamp structure adapted to be readily secured to objects, such as the head frame of a bed, the back of a chair, or the edge of a shelf.

10 In addition to the features thereof which will be hereinafter fully described, the adjustable lamp is of compact form and of such design as to have a pleasing appearance.

It is an object of the invention to provide a 15 universally adjustable lamp in which a relatively complete control of the light beam may be attained, with regard to both the direction of the light beam and the size thereof. It is a feature of the lamp that means are embodied therein for 20 definitely cutting off the light beam in any desired plane so that a strong light will be projected above the plane of control, and the space below such plane will be relatively dark or illuminated entirely by reflected light.

25 It is a further object of the invention to provide an adjustable lamp of the above character having an improved form of shield or reflector made from cooperating overlapping cup-shaped parts hingedly related so as to produce the control of the light beam set forth in the preceding paragraph.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident throughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of my invention, partly sectioned in a vertical plane.

40 Fig. 2 is a face View corresponding in part to Fig. 1 but showing the base member of the lamp structure secured to a diagonal member.

Fig. 3 is a side View similar to Fig. 1 drawn to slightly reduced scale and showing the adjustable shield member in relatively closed position.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing the manner in which the lamp may be secured against a wall and showing the light controlling means thereof in position to direct the light beam to one side 59 of a vertical plane and above a horizontal plane.

Fig. 5 is a View of the lamp showing the parts thereof adjusted for use on a table. As shown in the drawing, my invention provides a lamp globe I0 of commercial type carried on a universally adjustable supporting means, broadly designated by the numeral II, so as to permit a rotation of the lamp I ll relative to a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. The adjustable supporting means II comprises a base member I2 adapted to be secured to a stationary object such 5 as a pipe I3 constituting a frame member of a bedstead, and a supporting bar I4 secured to the base member so as to rotate on a defined axis A-A, which axis is preferably perpendicular to the plane of the base member I2. The supporting bar I4 is rotatably secured to the base member I2 by a simple means which operates frictionally to resist rotation of the bar I4 whereby to yieldably hold such bar I4 in any position to which it has been adjusted. This securing means for the bar I4 comprises a tubular stem I5 projecting rearwardly through an opening IS in the front wall ll of the base member I 2 from a shoulder I8 formed near the rearward end of the bar I4. In the inner face of the wall H a shallow counterbore I9 may be formed, and in this counterbore I9 a cupped spring washer 20 is placed around the inwardly projecting portion of the tubular stem I5, and the annular edge or lip 2I of the tubular stem I5 is flanged outwardly over the metal of the spring washer 2D surrounding the opening of the spring washer through which the tubular stem I5 extends. In this manner the spring washer 20 is placed under stress so as to continuously exert a resilient force for holding the shoulder I8 of the bar I4 against the outer face of the wall H, the frictional engagement of these parts serving to yieldably hold the bar I4 in its adjusted position relative to the base member I2. For detachably receiving the lamp globe I0, a commercial lamp socket 22 is employed, such lamp socket having switch means therein adapted,

in accordance with standard practice, to be actuated by means of a laterally slidable actuating pin 23. The shell of this lamp socket differs from standard lamp sockets in the provision thereon of a rear end cap 24 having a cord outlet 25 extending laterally therefrom instead of being aligned with the axis of the lamp socket 22, so that the lamp cord 26 will be projected laterally from the socket 22 instead of rearwardly therefrom. By means of a pair of projecting tongues 21, which are preferably formed on the ends of a substantially circumferential band 28 secured around the body of the lamp socket 22, such lamp socket is secured to the outer end of the supporting bar I4. The bar I4 is flattened as indicated at 30 so that a pivot member, which may be in the form of a screw 3|, may be employed to clamp the tongues or lugs 21 against fiat faces so as to produce a frictional engagement sufiicient to resist free movement of the lamp socket 22 relative to the end of the bar I4. The screw 3| extends perpendicuiarly to the' axis AA. The socket 22 may be rotated on the axis AA through a plane parallel to the face of the wall l1, and on the pin 3| the lamp socket 22 may be rotated on an axis which crosses the axis A--A, thereby permitting the lamp socket 22 and the lamp globe I0 carried thereby to be rotated into the various positions relative to the base i2 shown in Figs. 2 to 5.

Mounted on the socket 22 is a light controlling or shield device 33 comprising a primary member 34. and a secondary member 35. The primary member 34 is of cup shape and is preferably semispherical and of such diameter that it will fit essentially halfway around the lampglobe l0.

This primary member 34 comprises a shield for half the space around the filament of the lamp globe in and is rotatable on a defined axis relative to the lamp globe, such axis preferably being the axis BB of the socket 22 which passes centrally through the filament of the lamp globe Hi. My invention provides asimple means for so mounting the primary shield member 34, such means consisting of an annular wall 35 disposed around the axis BB and having an inwardly turned edge 37 at the upper or outer end thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, frictionally engaged in a groove 38 formed in a ring 39 carried by the socket 22. In its preferred form the ring 39 is internally threaded and screwed upon external threads 40 formed at the lower end of the lamp socket 22. The primary shield member 34 may rotate entirely around the axis BB and likewise around the lamp globe ll; so that the opening 4| thereof may be faced in any desired direction. The primary shield member 34 therefore provides a light control means for cutting off the light from the globe |0 behind a plane C--C which is at all times parallel to the axis BB and rotates around the axis BB as the primary shield member 34 is rotated in the described manner. The secondary shield member 35 is also of cup-shaped form and is 'rotatably mounted on the shield member 34 so that it may be swung from a non-closing to a closing position relative to the opening 4| of the primary shield member 34. This secondary shield member 35 is preferably also of hollow semi-spherical form and is of slightly larger diameter than the primary shield member 34 so that it may be placed. thereover in a manner to entirely cover the external face of the member 34 and in such position,

as shown in Fig. 2, that the opening or lip '42 thereof will coincide with the plane. C C defined by the lip or opening 4| of the primary shield member 34. For pivotally carrying the secondary shield member 35, pivot pins or rivets 43 are located on an axis D-D which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation BB and is diametral with respect to the semi-spherical shield members 34 and 35. These pivot pins 43 pass through edge portions of the members 34 and 35 and through spacer washers 44 which are disposed between such edge portions, and heads are formed on the ends of the pivot members 43 for holding them in place and for causing the frictional engagement of the shield members 34 and 35 with the spacer washers 44, the purpose of such frictional engagement being to resist free movement of the secondary shield member35 relative to the primary shield member 34.

As shown in Fig. 1, the leftward portion of the secondary shield member 35 has a semi-circular notch45 ciit therein, of a diameter slightly larger than the cylindrical supporting shell 36 so that as the leftward portion of the secondary shield member 35 is rotated upwardly so as to bring the lips or openings 4| and 42 intoalignment, the semi-circular notch 45 will lie over essentially half of the lower edge of the cylindrical part 33.

The construction described in the foregoing ermits the secondary shield member 35 to be rotated from a position such as shown in Fig. 2, i

in which the opening 4| of the primary shield member 34 is entirely disclosed, through intermediate positions such as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, to a position such as shown in Fig. 3 in which the opening 4| of the primary member 34 is almost closed; Therefore, the primary and secondary shield members 34 and 35 cooperate to provide a controi of the direction and quantity of light rays issued from the adjustable lamp structure. V

It is a feature of the invention to provide the base member |2 with a plurality of securing means one of which is in the form of a clamp'4l having a curved portion 43 bent from a fiat metal wall so as to cooperate with curved notches 5! formed in the side walls 5| which extend rearwardly from the front wall I! of the base H. The clamp 4! includes an essentially flat wall 52:

extending downwardly from the inner or lower ceiving a pin 55 which extends across the inner space 55 of the base member i2 from one side wall 5| to the other thereof. A coil spring 5? is placed around the pin 55, and the ends 58 and E30 of this spring 51 are disposed so as to press respectiveiy against the wall 53 of, the clamp 41 and the front wall I! of the base member l2 so as to resiliently urge the clamp 41 toward the inner face of the wall l2, whereby to normally hold the clamp 41 within the space 56 of the basemember 2, as

shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The curved notches 53 in the side walls 5| of the base member l2, in addition to cooperating with the clamp 41in the engagement of a supporting member such as the pipe' i3, also provide side openings through which a thumb and finger may be moved readily into engagement with the curved wall 49 of the clamp 4'! for the purpose of pulling the clamp 41 into an extended position in preparation to engaging a supporting member.

In Fig. 1 the adjustable lamp structure is shown in the position which it may assume on a bedstead above the head of a person lying in ,the bed.

When the lamp is so placed, the head of the reclining person is below the lamp globe M3. B0- tation of the primary shield member 34into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 will result in controlling the issue of lightrays in aforward direction, and the adjustment of the secondary shield member into the intermediate position shown in 1 will control the downward passage of light rays. The lip or opening 42 ofthe secondary shieid member will cut oif the light below a plane indicated by the dotted line E, thereby.

preventing the light from striking the eyes of a the other desires to read, the primary shield member 34 may be rotated on the axis B--B so that the opening 4 I of the primary shield member 34 will be sidewardly directed, thereby cutting off all direct light in the direction of the person desiringtosleep but maintaining a control of the light in the direction of the person desiring to read in such a manner that the light rays will strike the face of the book held by, but not in the face or eyes of, the person desiring to read. It will be recognized that my light structure provides a primary shield member 3Q which is so mounted by the base I 2, the bar l4, and the pivot screw 3! that the opening or lip ll thereof may be moved into any desired plane, and that likewise the secondary shield member may be moved into any desired plane due to the ability of the respective parts of the lamp structure to rotate in a plurality of planes. Accordingly, in the use of the lamp structure the primary shield member 34 may be disposed with its lip 4| in any desired upright or essentially vertical plane, and the secondary shield member 35 may be rotated to cut off the light above or below an essentially horizontal plane. In Fig. 4 the primary shield member 34 is disposed sidewardly, and the secondary shield member 35 is so placed as to cut ofi a downward passage of light. .As shown in Fig. 5, the entire lamp structure may be inverted, and the secondary shield member 35 may be disposed so as to cut off the light above a horizontal or essentially horizontal plane.

The lamp structure provides a facile and quick adjustment into any desired light controlling position. It is especially useful for the purpose hereinabove set forth, and when used on a table in the position essentially shown in Fig. 5, it is of especial value to draftsmen as it will control a beam of light across a drawing but completely guard the eyes of the worker from such light. Where a small amount of light is desired, as, for instance, a night light, the secondary shield member 35 may be rotated into the substantially closed position in which it is shown in Fig. 3. At

this time small beams of light will issue from the triangular openings 65 existing between the upper parts of the lips 4| and 42. In the case of an emergency call, an awakened sleeper desiring more light is not required to search around for a light button but reaches directly to the source of light, namely, the small openings 65, and quickly moves the secondary shield 35 into a relatively open position.

As hereinbefore described, the adjustable lamp may be mounted on rod or bar members, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be used as a table lamp, as shown in Fig. 5. In addition to this, it may be readily hung upon a wall, and for this purpose a slotted plate 66 is provided within the end of the space 56 opposite to the clamp 41, the slot 61 of this plate 66 being adapted to engage the projecting portion of a screw or nail 68 which is placed in the face of a wall member 16, as shown in Fig. 4.

I claim as my invention:

An adjustable lamp of the character described, including: a base; a lamp globe; a socket for said lamp globe; a bar connecting between said base and said socket for universally supporting said socket on said base, said base having a recess in the bottom thereof; a clamping plate swingably secured to the base so as to swing in and out of said recess; spring means on said base engaging said clamping plate for urging said clamping plate toward said recess; a cup-shaped shield rtatably secured to said socket in a position partly surrounding said lamp globe and so as to rotate on the axis through said lamp globe and said socket; and a second cup-shaped shield rotatably mounted in a position partly surrounding said lamp globe so as to swing relative to said first named shield on an axis disposed in a plane essentially perpendicular to said first named axis, whereby to relatively close and disclose the opening of said first named shield.

JAMES H. CANNON. 

